(a) For purposes of this chapter, a bridge plan product shall mean an individual health benefit plan that is offered by a health insurer licensed under this part that contracts with the Exchange pursuant to Title 22 (commencing with Section 100500) of the Government Code.

(b) On and after September 30, 2013, if a health insurance policy has not been filed with the commissioner, a health insurer that contracts with the Exchange to offer a qualified bridge plan product pursuant to Section 100504.5 of the Government Code shall file the policy form with the commissioner pursuant to Section 10290.

(c) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 10965.3, a health insurer selling a bridge plan product shall not be required to fairly and affirmatively offer, market, and sell the health insurer’s bridge plan product except to individuals eligible for the bridge plan product pursuant to the State Department of Health Care Services and the Medi-Cal managed care plan’s contract entered into pursuant to Section 14005.70 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, provided the health care service plan meets the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 14005.70 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 10965.3, a health insurer selling a bridge plan product shall provide an initial open enrollment period of six months, and an annual enrollment period and a special enrollment period consistent with the annual enrollment and special enrollment periods of the Exchange.

(d) A health insurer that contracts with the Exchange to offer a qualified bridge plan product pursuant to Section 100504.5 of the Government Code shall maintain a medical loss ratio of 85 percent for the bridge plan product. A health insurer shall utilize, to the extent possible, the same methodology for calculating the medical loss ratio for the bridge plan product that is used for calculating the health insurer’s medical loss ratio pursuant to Section 10112.25 and shall report its medical loss ratio for the bridge plan product to the department as provided in Section 10112.25.

(e) This section shall become inoperative on the October 1 that is five years after the date that federal approval of the bridge plan option occurs, and, as of the second January 1 thereafter, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before that date deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.

(Added by renumbering Section 10961 by Stats. 2014, Ch. 442, Sec. 8. (SB 1465) Effective September 18, 2014. Conditionally inoperative, on date prescribed by its own provisions. Repealed, by its own provisions, on second January 1 after inoperative date.)